1 /5 Ryan the professional: This is a "pastoral oversight" congregation. Which I only heard rumors about until I attended here. Preacher appointed deacons with no elders yet. Preacher proudly announced in class that he told previous elders they dont need to oversee the congregation. Openly admits he is trying to appoint unqualified sexes in positions of authority. Basically, everything I heard him say violates almost everything in first and second Timothy. I noticed some other members speak out and quote scripture, and he just kind of belittled them and told them they didnt understand. I hope they change the name of the church if they keep going down this path. There is a more faithful congregation close by, but they are Spanish speaking only.
The organization the Lord designed for the local church is very simple. Each congregation is self-governed under the spiritual care of men divinely chosen to oversee its membership. These men are known as "elders" or "presbyters" (Acts 20:17; I Timothy 4:14).
In addition to elders, the Lord provides for deacons in the local church to assist the elders. Pauls letter to the Philippians shows that deacons were an established order in the congregation with the elders. It is addressed to all the saints at Philippi "with (including) the bishops and deacons" (Philippians 1:1). Evangelists in the church are charged with preaching and teaching the word of God (II Timothy 4:1-5; Acts 8:5; 11:26; 20:20; 21:8). But evangelists are not in charge of the church. Like deacons, teachers and other members of the congregation, they serve under the oversight of the elders.
